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If you haven't tried a corn maze before, don't be nervous! You're going to laugh, get a bit of family exercise, and have a lot of fun. Each farm does things a little differently, but generally, you will be offered a series of clues to help you navigate the maze and find your way out. Most corn mazes have emergency exits and ways to signal for help, so you can't get too lost.

Tip: Many farms don't allow strollers, nor do strollers always navigate well along the rough, bumpy lanes of corn. Pack the baby carrier and make sure your toddler or preschooler is up to the challenge, or risk carrying them part of the way. Some farms have more low-key challenges for little ones like hay bale mazes.

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Trek through the corn maze at Hurds Family Farm.

Best Corn Mazes near NYC for Families

Best Corn Maze for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Hurds Family Farm

Modena, New York
90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
At just 2 acres, the maze at Hurds Family Farm is the perfect outing for young adventurers. A slew of other seasonal amusements awaits toddlers and preschoolers after the maze, including a hayride, cow train, obstacle course, playgrounds, apple cider donuts, slushies, and animal feeding. Plus, the pumpkin patches are open for picking. Check the website for special events.

Best Corn Maze for Fall Fun on a Budget: Fink's Country Farm

Wading River, New York
80 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
This Long Island "agritainment" destination offers a fall festival on weekends in September and October with all-inclusive wristbands (kids under 3 are FREE) that provide unlimited access to a 5-acre corn maze and other farm fun like hayrides, face time with the barnyard animals, bounce houses, and a combine slide. Additional activities such as pony rides, pumpkin picking, and a kiddie train are available for an additional fee.

Best Corn Maze at a Family-Owned Farm: Lee Turkey Farm

East Windsor, New Jersey
80 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Lee Turkey Farm is situated on 54 acres of beautiful farmland surrounded by suburbia. The farm has been owned and worked by one family for seven generations and their care of the land is evident. We rarely encounter crowds during our visits. Beyond the corn maze, there's a great playground for the kids. Families can also pick fruits and veggies or purchase farm-fresh eggs and local dairy products. Of course, come Thanksgiving, visit Lee for a fresh bird for your table!

RELATED: Apple Picking Orchards Near NYC

For the truly adventurous, hit Mazezilla in Pennsylvania at night.

Best Corn Maze for a Full Day of Fun: Mazezilla

Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
This popular corn maze at Klingel's Farm on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap has all the makings of a full day of fun. It can be difficult to settle on what to try first: the 11-acre corn maze, the pumpkin slingshot, or the impressive 100-foot-long "mountain slide." There are also wagon rides, farm animals to visit, hay forts, and a large pumpkin patch for picking. The corn maze is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visit the calendar for a full schedule before heading out.

Best Corn Maze for Foodies: Argo's Farm

Forked River, New Jersey
90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
While most farms offer something to eat, the selection at Argo's makes this a stop for families craving more than just a puzzling afternoon. The farmers here dish up delicious homemade baklava, the requisite apple cider donut, sausage and pepper sandwiches, and many more tasty eats during fall weekends. Additional weekend attractions include pig races, pony rides, and pumpkin picking. The fall fun begins in mid-September.

Best Corn Maze for Classic Fall Fun: Castle Hill Farm

Newtown, Connecticut
Approximately 90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
This family-owned Connecticut farm offers a 7-acre maze, a 4-acre pick-your-own pumpkin patch, hayrides, and farm animals to pet. The corn maze, pumpkin patch, and hayrides open for the season at the end of September.

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Alstede's agritainment options are available seven days a week.

Best Corn Maze for a Weekday Visit: Alstede Farms

Chester, New Jersey
Approximately 60 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan. Also accessible via New Jersey Transit.
While many regional farms offer activities only on weekends, Alstede, one of New Jersey's top farms for family entertainment, offers activities daily, which means an opportunity for a less-crowded midweek visit. Along with pick-your-own pumpkins, apples, and vegetables, Alstede has a blooming sunflower trail, evergreen maze, and a kiddie maze in addition to its supersized main corn maze. Plus, you don't need a car to get here. Take New Jersey Transit to the Gladstone Station. On weekends, a FREE shuttle will pick you up, though make your reservations before heading out.

Best Corn Maze for Car-Free Families: Outhouse Orchards

North Salem, New York
75 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan. Also accessible via Metro-North.
No car? No problem! You can hop a ride on the Metro-North to the Croton Falls station and then catch a cab to this farm. After you conquer the corn maze, grab a pumpkin from the patch to take home. Weekend reservations are required before visiting Outhouse Orchards, which can be booked online.

RELATED: Farm Fun Guide to New Jersey's Top Spots

Take a hayride, devour baked goods pick a pumpkin and navigate the corn maze at Etsch Farms. 

Corn Maze with the Best Apple Cider Doughnuts: Etsch Farms

Monroe Township, New Jersey
75 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
The 8-acre corn maze is one reason to visit this New Jersey farm. Another is the Bakery Barn, where those warm apple cider doughnuts await, plus homemade pie, and apple cider slushies. After you've eaten your fill, pick a pumpkin, take a hayride, or hop on the corn train.

Visit the Reba corn maze at Von Thun Farms. 

Best Corn Maze for a Quick Day Trip: Von Thun's Country Farm

Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
60 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
A mere hour from NYC, a visit to the maze at this New Jersey spot doesn't have to eat up an entire day. The farm offers several challenge levels for its 6-acre corn maze. There's also a straw maze for little ones. Other farm attractions include hayrides, mini golf, apple picking, and more. Von Thun's Country Farm is open daily.

Best Corn Maze for the Agri-Purists: Lewin Farm

Calverton, New York
90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
For those who want a quieter farm experience, this is the spot. There are no bouncy castles or pony rides here. The farm does, however, have a decent 5-acre corn maze with clue stops, designed and plowed by the owners. Allow about 30 minutes to navigate. Plus, you can pick pumpkins right from the vine. Call in the morning to confirm opening times: 631-929-4327.

RELATED: Halloween and Fall Train Rides in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Take a steam train to a corn maze with Delaware River Railroad Excursions. Photo by Mitch Goldman

Best Corn Maze for Rail Fans: Corn Maze Train

Phillipsburg, New Jersey
90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Got a train-obsessed kid? Hop aboard the Delaware River Railroad Excursions' steam locomotive and chug your way to this 10-acre corn maze, where you can play maze games, enjoy the picnic grove, and (for an extra fee) pan for gemstones at the Ol' Susquehanna Mine. The Corn Maze Train runs from late August through Halloween. Book your trip online in advance.

Best Corn Maze for Fearless Families: F&W Schmitt's Family Farm

Melville, New York
50 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
This 7-acre corn maze and pumpkin patch in Long Island's western Suffolk County is home to the isle's scariest haunted house, and organizers have added a haunted corn maze in recent years. Not for the timid (or those under 8 years old), the dark labyrinth will have you trying to figure out which way to go with killer scarecrows and rotting corpses on your tail. The farm also offers non-haunted, daytime activities for kids, including pony rides, hayrides, and mini golf. Its annual Fall Festival runs weekends in late September and October. Tickets are available only at the farm, and no reservations are required.

Best Corn Maze for High-Tech Adventure: Happy Day Farm

Manalapan, New Jersey
75 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
The central New Jersey farm celebrates the family game Maize-O-Poly, as you and your family navigate your way through the 10-acre maze in search of each square on your Maize-O-Poly game board. The techie extras like texting options and a GPS locator make for a modern-day adventure. This popular pumpkin picking spot also offers a small sunflower maze, a life-sized game of checkers, a playground, pedal carts, and a giant box of corn kernels to romp in. Happy Day Farm's fall season runs through October. You must reserve online for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in September and October. Limited attractions are open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The farm is cash-only.

RELATED: Best Pick-Your-Own Flower Farms near NYC

Raub's Farm Market hosts a massive, 14-acre maze in Pennsylvania.

Best Corn Maze for Families Who Want to Go Big: Raub's Farm Market

Easton, Pennsylvania
90 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
At 14 acres, Raub's has the largest corn maze on our list. It's three mazes in one, nearly 7 miles long if you walk the entire thing, including one where you can play FSI—"Farm Scene Investigation"—and discover which animals kidnapped the farmer. If you chicken out, there's a hayride that circles the perimeter of the maze. Kids can hunt for hidden treasure or play a monster-themed mystery game. There's also a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and more. Raub's Farm Market is open daily through Halloween.

Best Corn Maze for All-Ages: Stony Hill Farm Market

Chester, New Jersey
75 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Another option for an entire day of fall celebrations, Stony Hill boasts an activity-filled maze park. Once you make it through the 10-acre corn maze, you can tackle a miniature corn maze and a rope maze. When you're all mazed out, play a life-sized, farm-themed board game, romp in the playground, and score the perfect gourd from the pumpkin patch. The Maze Fun Park is open daily through the first weekend in November.

RELATED: Pumpkin Patches and Fall Fun on Long Island

Harbes Family Farm on the North Fork offers multiple mazes for autumn entertainment.

More Family-Friendly Corn Mazes near NYC

While our list highlights corn mazes within 90 minutes of New York City, several unique spots require a bit more travel time, but we can't resist telling you about them.

Harbes Family Farm – Multiple Long Island Locations

120 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Dates vary depending on location. See the website for details.
The granddaddy of Long Island farms, Harbes has three locations on the East End. Each farm has its own corn maze and seasonal activities. Its Mattituck location is the largest of the three with two mazes, an obstacle course, and a slew of farm-themed attractions in the Barnyard Adventure Park, which are all open daily. At Harbes Orchard, in Riverhead, visitors can experience a spooky nighttime maze on weekends and holidays. And, last but not least, the Jamesport farm has the largest of the Harbes corn mazes at 6 acres and also offers vine-ripened pumpkins for picking. It's open on weekends and holidays.

Hank's Pumpkintown – Water Mill, New York

110 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Hank's Pumpkintown boasts so many fun fall activities for kids that we think it's worth the trip to Long Island's East End. The 7-acre corn maze is comprised of three sections, designed for different ages, ranging in simplicity from a pair of 15-minute mazes for tots to more intricate, hour-long excursions for families with older kids. The corn maze is just part of the vast park that also includes hayrides, wagon rides, and tractor-drawn train rides, plus calf roping, cow milking, a 50-foot long tube slide, pedal carts, and lots of other farm fun. The pumpkin patch is open daily; the mazes are open weekday afternoons, though many of the attractions are weekends-only.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm – Ronks, Pennsylvania

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Check the website for daily hours. The farm is now cash-less.
This is my family's favorite destination for farm fun. Cherry Crest features more than 50 agritainment activities and one of the region's best corn mazes. It's too far for a day trip but makes for a perfect weekend spot in the heart of Pennsylvania's Dutch Country.

Photos courtesy of the farms

A version of this article was first published in 2015; it is updated annually.